Safi al-Kassasbeh (R), the father of captured Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh (portrait) ( AFP)[/caption]The Takfiri ISIL terrorist group has threatened to execute a captured Jordanian pilot if Amman fails to hand over a female terrorist linked to the ISIL in exchange for a Japanese hostage by a Thursday deadline.
In a new audio recording released by ISIL-linked Twitter accounts, a voice identifying itself as Japanese freelancer Kenji Goto, who is also held hostage by the ISIL, said, If Sajida al-Rishawi (the female terrorist) is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday sunset, 29th of January, Mosul time, the Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh will be killed immediately.
It is the first communication since the previous 24-hour deadline for Rishawis release expired at around 1400 GMT Wednesday.
Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stated that the recording seemed genuine, adding, We are in the process of confirming it, but it is highly probable that the voice is Mr. Gotos.
Sajida al-Rishawi is thought to have been behind an attack on a hotel in Jordan in 2005 and is on death row in Jordanian custody.
Japan speeds up efforts
Meanwhile, speaking after a special meeting of cabinet ministers on Thursday, Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government was making every effort to ensure Gotos early release and repeated that Tokyo was seeking cooperation from Jordan to make the swap happen.
On January 24, a video emerged showing Goto holding the photo of a dead body allegedly belonging to another Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa. He was apparently beheaded after a 72-hour deadline for a USD 200-million ransom passed without payment. The ransom demanded is believed to be the same amount as the money allocated by Japan to the fight the ISIL terrorist group.
Later, on January 27, the terrorist militants posted an online video, demanding the release of Rishawi. However, the new deadline comes as Jordan had already announced it was ready to release the female terrorist in exchange for the Jordanian pilot.
Kassasbeh, the Jordanian pilot, was captured by the ISIL on December 24, 2014 after his F-16 jet crashed while flying over northern Syria on a mission against the terrorists.
The ISIL terrorist group, with members from several Western countries, controls swathes of land in Iraq and Syria.
The group has been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.
By Press TV
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